Depot museum and Northwest Wisconsin railroad history

Railroad Memories Museum

A short drive into Spooner, roughly 4.5 miles straight-line from the Trego depot

Explore thirteen artifact-filled rooms in Spooner's original 1902 Omaha depot and connect the region's railroading past with a Wisconsin Great Northern excursion.

The place

About Railroad Memories Museum

Railroad Memories Museum occupies Spooner's original 1902 Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway depot. Thirteen rooms preserve the people, tools, documents, signals, uniforms, lanterns, signs, and everyday work of the railroads that made Spooner a regional division point.

The collection includes an HO-scale diorama of the Spooner yard, a Chicago & North Western snow plow awaiting restoration, historic photographs, timetables, and railroad equipment. The museum was organized in 1987 and is independent from Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad.

The current season banner says Memorial Day through Labor Day. Published regular hours are 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday, with Wednesday, Sunday, and Monday closed. Group tours and additional hours may be arranged by appointment.

No current general-admission price is published on the official museum or tourism pages. Call before travel for the current rate rather than assuming admission is free. The tourism listing identifies the building as wheelchair accessible and lists parking, bus parking, and restrooms.

What stands out

Walk through the 1902 depot

Use the original Omaha Railway depot itself as the first artifact, then move through thirteen rooms devoted to Spooner's railroad story.

Study the Spooner yard in miniature

Follow tracks, buildings, and operating patterns in an HO-scale diorama of the town's once-busy railroad yard.

Meet the workers through their tools

Connect uniforms, lanterns, signs, tools, paperwork, and photographs to the people who kept the railroad moving.

See preservation in progress

View a Chicago & North Western snow plow awaiting restoration and learn why large railroad artifacts demand long-term care.

Build a two-depot railroad day

Contrast the museum's historic Spooner depot with Wisconsin Great Northern's operating base and current excursion service in Trego.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad trip

The museum is a short drive south into Spooner from Wisconsin Great Northern's Trego depot. Pair it before an evening dinner or overnight train, or after a morning pizza train, only when the museum's limited seasonal hours align.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • 2026 seasonMemorial Day through Labor Day; remaining regular dates run through Saturday, September 5
  • Regular hoursTuesday and Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; closed Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday
  • AdmissionNo current rate is published; call 715-635-3325 before travel
  • Guided visitsGuided tours by reservation; published tour length is about one hour
  • GroupsReservations required for groups of 10 or more; published maximum group size is 60
  • AccessibilityOfficial tourism listing says wheelchair accessible; call for doorway, restroom, seating, or mobility details
  • FacilitiesParking, bus parking, restrooms, and a gift shop are listed
  • Train pairingA short drive from the Trego depot; protect the train's fixed boarding time first

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Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is Railroad Memories Museum open?

The 2026 banner says Memorial Day through Labor Day. Regular hours are 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday; the museum is closed Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday.

How much is admission?

The current official museum and tourism pages do not publish a general-admission rate. Call 715-635-3325 before travel for the current price.

What will I see?

The original 1902 depot holds thirteen rooms of artifacts including uniforms, lanterns, signs, tools, photographs, timetables, an HO-scale Spooner yard diorama, and a C&NW snow plow awaiting restoration.

How long should I allow?

The tourism listing gives one hour as the guided-tour length. Allow roughly an hour, and more if you like to examine documents, photographs, and equipment closely.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

The official tourism listing says it is wheelchair accessible and lists onsite restrooms. Call before travel for detailed doorway, restroom, seating, or mobility information.

Can groups arrange a tour?

Yes. Guided visits and additional hours can be arranged by appointment. Groups of 10 or more require a reservation, and the listed maximum group size is 60.

Is it part of Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad?

No. Railroad Memories Museum is an independent museum in Spooner. Wisconsin Great Northern operates its passenger trains from nearby Trego.

How should I pair it with the train?

Protect the train's fixed boarding time first. The museum can work before an evening dinner or overnight departure, or after a morning train, when its 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. seasonal hours align.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-24. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.